Abstract

Public authorities are increasingly deploying automated and algorithmic systems to support decision-making, often in the interests of efficiency and cost-saving. However, people in vulnerable situations often bear the brunt of errors that arise when these systems are at fault or used incorrectly. This paper presents a brief vignette and discussion illustrating how issues of data and algorithmic justice impact on co-produced geographical research, looking critically at the relationship between North-South collaboration and the UK government’s use of algorithms to carry out public administration functions, specifically in the administration of visa applications by project partners from the Global South. The problem is outlined in the wider context of government automation, and questions for further investigation are raised concerning accountability and research ethics.